Dudley CVS annual report 2015-16

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Annual Report 2015-2016

Welcome to the Dudley CVS Annual Report 2015-2016 Dudley Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) is a small, versatile charity that supports people and organisations that want to make a difference to communities across Dudley borough.

We’ve been firmly rooted in Dudley borough for over 40 years and we’re continually learning and adapting so that we can help the people and organisations that want to make our borough an inspiring place to be.

At the heart of our work is the support we give to not-for-profit organisations. These organisations range from small, volunteer-led groups that improve local neighbourhoods, to larger charities and social enterprises that support people from all over the borough. What unites them is their passion and energy to improve people's lives. We give information, training and practical guidance to help people to set up, efficiently run and develop their group, helping them to access the tools, knowledge, resources and funding they need to be successful.

Dudley CVS also helps individuals to develop and fulfil their

About Dudley CVS

potential. Through Integrated Plus and Healthwatch Dudley, we support people that access health and social care services by

Our vision

listening to people’s experiences and working with people who

Caring, vibrant and

design those services to improve them. We help some of the most

strong communities where everyone can fulfil their potential

vulnerable people get their voices heard and support them to access services that improve their health and wellbeing.

We’re also interested in thinking differently and bringing people together to try new things that breathe life into our local economy.

Our mission

Connecting and inspiring people and organisations

We help people and statutory partners come together in rejuvenated community venues (like Brierley Hill Civic and DY1 in Dudley) to plan, create, make, learn and enjoy things together. We signpost to volunteering opportunities and encourage collaboration between all

to achieve positive

sectors to enhance the health, wealth and wellbeing of people

change while

across the borough.

championing their value to partners and the wider community

On the next page, you'll see some of the headline numbers from our year's work. For more information and for the stories behind these figures, please visit the colour-coded section.

Supporting people

ÂŁ375,000

Supported 2,202 individuals

Improved confidence and wellbeing

Estimated NHS cost saving (explained further)

Inspiring vibrant and resilient communities

Over 39 areas of work..... ... mobilised more than 500 people, voluntary organisations businesses and partners...

... reaching an estimated 95,000 people!

Strengthening organisations

Strengthened 267 voluntary organisations, charities & social enterprises

With our help, 72 organisations received grants totalling ÂŁ1.8million

Organisations feel more confident

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At a glance

Finding your way around this report This report is a snapshot of Dudley CVS's work and achievements between April 2015 and March 2016.

Contents Supporting people Supporting people who provide unpaid care Mr W's story

Our work is categorised into

Integrated Plus

three colour-coded sections,

Mr P's Story

representing the different types of people, communities and organisations we have

Inspiring vibrant and resilient communities

supported throughout the

Collaborating to support children and young people

year. At the start of each

Supporting resident-led initiatives

section are data, facts and

Creating spaces for learning, sharing and enjoying

figures that Dudley CVS

Listening to local people about health, care and

would like to share. This is

wellbeing

followed by some of the real

Involving children and young people

life stories of the work Dudley

Encouraging everyone to participate

CVS staff have embarked on

Connecting, sharing and learning

this year, the people behind them and the difference they have made. The final section brings all of this work together, explaining the beliefs that underpin Dudley

Strengthening organisations Getting groups on track Unlocking resources and funding Supporting organisations to use new technology Bringing the sector together

CVS's work and why we work to enhance Dudley borough

Initiating, supporting and leading change

and its communities throughout the year.

Sustaining genuine collaboration Innovating and promoting resilience

Dudley CVS supports some of the most vulnerable people in society to improve their health and wellbeing. Our Integrated Plus project works with people who frequently visit their GP or who are at high risk of hospital admission to become more active in their communities, thereby reducing pressure on medical services. In addition, our Carer Coordinator supports people that provide unpaid care to family members or friends to prevent or alleviate crisis.

Both initiatives work closely with voluntary and community organisations and statutory partners to ensure a collaborative and holistic approach to providing support.

In 2015-16

Carer Coordinator provided information or support to 1,246 people who provide unpaid care for their family members or friends

Supported 2,202 individuals

Integrated Plus supported 956 people who frequently visit their GP or are at high risk of hospital admission

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Supporting people

Supporting people who provide unpaid care

2015-16

Did you know?

Information / signposting Health and social care access Long term health issues Dementia Hospital discharge

Supported 1,246 people

Common areas of support

Results

78% of carers and 67% of professionals said they felt more confident

78% of carers and 100% of professionals feel better connected

Carers do not always consider themselves to be carers They may ask for support when: The person they care for is admitted to or discharged from hospital They are no longer able to cope Their own health deteriorates They need to talk They need to find out what support is available Their own needs become too great to continue caring

56% of carers and 67% of professionals said they have better opportunities

67% of professionals feel more efficient

Mr W cares for his wife, who has Parkinson's and recently diagnosed dementia. A Parkinson's nurse specialist who was supporting his wife referred Mr W to the Dudley CVS Carer Coordinator for information and support to prevent the couple from getting into crisis.

When the Carer Coordinator met Mr W, he was initially quite distressed as he was finding caring for his wife overwhelming. Mr W was also feeling guilty and upset at asking for help.

The Carer Coordinator spent time listening to Mr W and reassuring him. This helped Mr W to talk about his needs and things he would like to try to help him cope. The Carer Coordinator also supported by suggesting services and coping strategies so that he could have some time to himself. This led to Mr W trying out sitting services, day care services, employing a cleaner and organising respite to give him time to decide on what would most help him and his wife. In addition, the Carer Coordinator completed an initial carers assessment for Dudley MBC and worked in collaboration with other services to ensure that Mr W had the information he needed to help him get extra appropriate support in the future.

The support that the Carer Coordinator gave to Mr W was not one-off. Mr W knew that he now had a network of support around him for his fluctuating situation in the future.

"As a lone carer, the Carer Coordinator motivated me to take stock and put in place an action plan for the future. I was encouraged to stop feeling that the world was on my shoulders, and do something positive to make me feel better about myself."

Mr W.

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Supporting individual carers: Mr W's story

Integrated Plus

2015-16 Isolation Long term health issues Depression Household issues Family issues

Supported 956 people

2,808 referrals made

76%

Common challenges faced by people supported

of referrals to voluntary and community organisations

Results ÂŁ375,000 Estimated NHS cost saving based on 44 people supported*

30% 92% of GPs & other health 61% reported Reduction in 91% reported improvements in improvements in inappropriate clinicians feel that Link Officers are pivotal to multi-disciplinary GP visits finances & debt housing situations teams & representing the voluntary sector

*The PSIAMS team is developing a detailed methodology for cost savings and cost avoidance

Mr P has a learning disability and had little contact with other people. He felt isolated and frustrated since losing his job a few years ago, which significantly decreased his confidence.

Mr P was referred to Integrated Plus because he frequently attended his GP practice and the Care Coordinator and GP felt he would benefit from accessing social opportunities and support.

The Locality Link Officer:

met Mr P, listened to him and found

identified Dudley Voices

successfully applied for a

out that he wanted to get out more

for Choice and

concessionary travel pass,

and meet people who would understand him. He also wanted to

Employment Plus as

with help from a supporting

services that could support

letter from Mr P's GP

gain employment in the future but lacked confidence

Dudley Voices for Choice (DVC) is a

charity that supports people with learning disabilities and autism to speak up for themselves. DVC offered Mr P a volunteering opportunity and access to

Employment Plus is a local authority service that

supports people with a learning disability and/or autism into paid employment. They work in a person-centred way to suit the individual and ensure employers offer suitable support. Through

their social Fridays where he could meet

this, Mr P took part in a work programme delivered

new people, gain new skills and hone his

by the Salvation Army, gained employability skills

existing pool playing talents

and accessed numeracy, literacy and IT courses

Mr P has felt confident enough to access further support through Dudley Advocacy and to take on more volunteering opportunities which are increasing his skills. Continued conversations with Mr P, his Care Coordinator and the voluntary sector organisations that support him highlight the importance of having a number of services for Mr P to draw upon. This means that Mr P knows exactly when and where he can access further support, should he need it.

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Integrated Plus: Mr P's story

In their words "The Link Officer has helped me a

"Since we first met Mr P we have

lot, he has given me my confidence

witnessed his confidence grow and

back. He is a very kind person. I am

willingness to engage in new

getting on well with people and

activities increase. He is now an

beating everyone at pool. My life is

integral part of our team and makes

getting better and I feel I will get

invaluable contributions to our

back into work."

service. We look forward to

Mr P

continuing to be a part of his journey."

"Mr P is coming in to the practice a

Sarah Offley, Dudley Voices for

lot less, I’m here but I haven’t seen

Choice

him. He used to come in a lot.

Mr P is a social person, it’s great

"Integrated Plus offers a real solution

"A fantastic service. A real

that suitable services have been

to people who would perhaps not be

game changer."

identified."

assisted via other routes."

Dr Rebecca Willetts (talking

Care Coordinator

Kim Wilkes, Social Worker

about Integrated Plus)

"I care for my mother who has

"The Carer Coordinator role and

recently lost her sight. I am finding

input she has provided the team,

out about support groups, meeting

patients and carers has been

people in similar situations and getting helpful information while taking some important time out for me."

Carer

invaluable. She has wide range of knowledge regarding local resources which has helped us tremendously."

Trudy Gaskin, Parkinson's Nurse Specialist, Dudley Rehab Service

"The Carer Coordinator is so clearly committed to the wellbeing of carers, and because of her proactive approach, reaching out and connecting with the community, making contact is seamless."

Heidi Napier, Black Country Partnership Foundation Trust, Physical Health Psychology

Dudley CVS is continually thinking differently about how to bring residents, businesses

In 2015-16

39

and partners together in

areas of work

activities and initiatives that benefit communities across Dudley borough. This year, team members have brought people together to try new things that breathe life into our local economy, encouraging statutory partners to listen to and work with local people.

Recognised & rewarded

volunteers & active citizens community organisations

500

955 volunteers

businesses

mobilised

We have mobilised volunteers, activists, businesses and partners to collaborate in initiatives that benefit young people and health and wellbeing. We have recognised and rewarded the volunteers

strategic boards & partners involved & 70 influenced

who make a massive difference in society.

Finally, Dudley CVS staff and friends in other organisations have brought community venues back to life as dynamic spaces where all sorts of activities and ideas are born.

95,000 Estimated number of people we have connected with

15 collaborative projects in Coseley and Wrens Nest

people & young people had a say on their 3,341 experiences of health & social care services

2,500 people engaged with the child sexual exploitation agenda

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Inspiring vibrant and resilient communities

Collaborating to support children and young people Raising awareness of child sexual exploitation Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is recognised nationally as one

Supporting parent-carers

of the most important challenges facing agencies today. Raising

Dudley CVS staff have supported

awareness in the community is an active and growing area of

parent-carers to give 250 voluntary

policy and practice, this is important as the public are the 'eyes

hours collaborating with 20 professionals to improve services for at

and ears' in tackling CSE. Dudley CVS staff and partners came together to deliver a CSE Awareness Campaign in March to coincide with a national awareness day. Volunteers and Community Champions from businesses, voluntary organisations and different faith groups spread messages throughout schools, clubs, online and in 5 towns across the borough where awareness events were hosted, led jointly by a named member of the CSE team, Community Champions, volunteers, Dudley CVS staff, local police and PCSOs.

least 108 parent-carers across the borough.

Promoting the voices of children and young people During the year, Dudley CVS staff have brought together young people with partners from children and youth organisations, Dudley Council, Dudley

The campaign highlighted issues surrounding CSE, encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt zero tolerance of anyone developing inappropriate relationships with children. In a week, the campaign reached 20,000 Twitter accounts, 1,409 accessed the blog, 995 engaged in

conversation on high streets across the borough and 1,088 children and young people had presentations in school and youth settings. Dudley's Catholic schools circulated information to all parents, arranging further training for those who wanted more information. The campaign was broadcast on Big Centre TV and Black Country Radio, reaching even more people.

Clinical Commissioning Group, West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service to improve the ways that children and young people influence decisions that affect them.

This work has highlighted how consultations with young people can be disjointed and tokenistic. Participants have agreed how young people can be empowered to have their say in decisions which affect them in ways that support the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Recommendations will now be presented to Dudley Children's Alliance, Improvement Board and Safeguarding Board.

Residents in Coseley have come together to lead a 10 year programme to make a massive and lasting difference where they live. They have

£1million to invest and Dudley CVS has been

supporting them to stimulate new practical, creative, people-led projects based on learning from innovative activities around the world and from work from Open Hub Wrens Nest.

This year, residents reviewed traditional grant-giving and found some issues with it, including limits on who might come forward for grants (usually only people who have set up or joined groups) and activities being entirely money dependent (often things don’t go ahead unless funding is granted).

Residents also reflected on how a grants process might feel both for applicants and for members of a local grants panel. They wanted a process which would encourage and support people and which wasn’t all about

In East Coseley and Wrens Nest collaborative projects have been supported.

2 are now self-sufficient

15

money. They felt that connections and bringing the community together were more important.

The residents formed a Project Investment Team to reach out to individuals with project ideas. They ran project co-design sessions based on Dudley CVS’s learning from Open Hub Wrens Nest. Different projects are planned together and ideas shared. They look at what already exists in Coseley which can help the project to succeed; many of these are things money can’t buy like goodwill and relationships. The Project Investment Team encourages and supports people to test their ideas, moving away from an all or nothing grants approach. People starting projects are supported to adapt ideas in response to their learning. It is recognised that the real world is more complicated than plans on paper, and projects don't develop in straight lines!

A range of projects have been supported which draw on all sorts of local skills and talents, from activities with families and children to local growing. The Project Investment Team has reflected on the success of the informal collective co-design sessions and how helpful they are for all involved: "People share experiences and what skills they have." "You can sit with people and feel how excited and eager they are." "The discussion stands out - as the session progresses people open up and grow in confidence."

243

people engaged

people have led projects in their own communities

76

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Supporting resident-led initiatives

Creating spaces for learning, sharing and enjoying Dudley CVS has a history of working with partners, communities and

DY1: Building a place where magic happens

groups to respond to challenges and

In November, DY1 officially opened. It was the culmination of work

grasp opportunities together. In

to bring the building back into use, an involved asset-transfer

recent years, Dudley CVS has

process with Dudley Council and developing relationships with

supported the local authority to

organisations that might want to use DY1 as their permanent

make facilities, land and buildings

base. It was also the start of something; since then, DY1 has been

available to local communities,

turning into a vibrant place that fosters collaboration, connecting

charities and community enterprises.

and learning, thanks to all the people that use the space.

By the same token, Dudley CVS has

As well as being a base for Dudley CVS projects such as Healthwatch

supported communities, charities

Dudley, Integrated Plus and PSIAMS, DY1 has become a home for

and community enterprises to be in

charities and social enterprises that do great work across Dudley

a better position to take on and

borough, including: Citizen Coaching CIC

Lunch on the Run

A social enterprise that

A charity that provides training and work

supports people with their

experience in catering for people with

personal development,

learning disabilities. Lunch on the Run

In 2015, Dudley CVS took on DY1, then an

coaching and employment

operates DY1's coffee shop and staff

empty day centre in Dudley town centre,

skills.

there help to make

develop these facilities, running them sustainably for the benefit of local people.

and the management of Brierley Hill Civic Hall. Throughout the year, we have been developing both venues as welcoming places where people can come to meet, learn, share, try new things and be entertained. Our vision is that these venues are more than just buildings to be used by Dudley CVS; they

visitors feel Dudley Mind

welcome.

A charity that empowers anyone experiencing a mental health problem and that campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

are for the whole community and their

Dudley Voices for Choice

value is in the people that visit them and

A charity that supports people with

the activities that are nurtured there.

learning disabilities and autism to speak up for themselves.

projects, DY1 has become a preferred place for people to come and work, start new initiatives, deliver training and seminars and enjoy themselves. The mix of people and organisations sharing the space

DY1 and Brierley Hill Civic Hall in numbers

has increased connectivity and collaboration between teams,

418 people attended 22 learning and sharing events organised by Dudley CVS

residents, partners and other organisations. It has also given CVS staff the opportunity to provide more outreach support and made staff more accessible.

Andy Mullaney, Dudley borough's first Business Connector, is one of the people to have made DY1 feel like home. Here is why he thinks DY1 is special: "On any given day there are people popping in and out, ranging from Dudley CVS employees, various volunteers, people seeking help, people wanting to get involved in the community, people who just want a chat and some company and people like me who need a temporary base within Dudley town centre.

800 people came to charity entertainment events organised by Dudley CVS

"Magic happens here because things get done and it has an atmosphere of welcome and 'can do'. You feel as though you are in the hub of the community and there is a spirit of togetherness in the air.

"Everyone I speak to says just how inspiring DY1 is and that walking through the front door suddenly makes you want to be part of the process to create a better Dudley.

"I hope every town can create an environment like this where the art of the possible is not only discussed but given oxygen, energy and life.

DY1

is a massive part of that for me

as when I seek inspiration, I go to the place and people who I know will always deliver."

171

Bookings of DY1 for workshops, seminars, parties and other activities*

* from November 2015-March 2016

86.4% increase in bookings of Brierley Hill Civic Hall following the recruitment of Business Development Manager in November 2015

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As well as providing a permanent base for these organisations and

Listening to local people about health, care and wellbeing Healthwatch Dudley is independent and local and is

During the year the Healthwatch Dudley team has...

celebrating a third year of helping thousands of people from Dudley borough to have an influential say in health

produced 6 evidencebased research reports

surveyed 2,231 people

and care.

Dudley CVS holds the contract for Healthwatch Dudley which has a separate independent

trained 59 new Community Information Champions

involved 322 people at 6 People's Network events

decision-making board and chair who provide leadership for the staff team.

We are delighted to share that a

spoken to over 3,000 people visiting patients at Russells Hall Hospital

run 25 focus groups with 407 participants

two-year extension has recently been granted by Dudley Council extending the service into 2018.

Healthwatch Dudley has published

met over 1,500 local people & promoted Healthwatch at 79 community events

listened to the personal experiences of over 5,000 people

its 2015/16 annual report showcasing notable highlights, the difference the award winning local organisation is making, together with an outline of

represented you on 19 influential panels & boards

been helped by 72 volunteers

priorities for the next two years.

Find out more at www.healthwatchdudley.co.uk

Stop Press...

Healthwatch Dudley is double award winning

after receiving two Healthwatch England national awards!

In April 2015 Healthwatch Dudley teamed up with Dudley Council’s Youth Service for an exciting project to listen to the views of children and young people and influence local service delivery.

A

successful bid was made to NHS England, using evidence from a previous successful joint project and Dudley Youth Health Researchers became a reality!

The project represented the Midlands and East Region and while project activity focused on local young people, the learning and outcomes were shared with regional Healthwatch and youth empowerment networks to inspire them to work in similar ways.

Dudley Youth Health Researchers initially involved 27 local young people with a wide range of life, health and wellbeing experiences including disability, living in care or supported accommodation, being a young carer, being home educated, having knowledge of life limiting illness or simply being a young person. Most significantly, group members had a common interest of wanting to make a difference!

The group met regularly during the year and following a residential where they discussed their own health and wellbeing experiences, they took to the streets to listen to the views of others.

Mental health featured heavily in group discussions and young people also talked about wellbeing and services available to them.

Group members went on to survey 1,100 other young people in schools, clubs, focus groups and at the Dudley borough Me Festival led by Dudley CCG. Their findings will help to influence how mental health services for young people are provided.

Involvement with the project has created lots of opportunities for young people, including presenting to a national Partners in Paediatrics conference and assisting with recruiting a new Chairperson.

Learning from the project has so far been shared at a British Youth Council Conference at Great Ormond Street Hospital and will inform a new partnership Dudley Health Champions programme in 2016/17.

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Involving children and young people

Encouraging everyone to participate Sometimes the answers to our biggest challenges are not in the places you expect. They won’t be found in the idea of a single person or the activity of a single organisation. It is not as simple as improving services, although this is of course part of it. The challenges may be complex but the solutions don’t have to be. To really improve things for everyone we have to find ways to come together and think about how we can all play an active role in shaping potential solutions to new and existing challenges we face.

People in our local communities have many resources available to them that have the potential to be used in different ways to help keep each other well, healthy and cared for. Unlocking these hidden and under-utilised gifts in our communities helps us to think differently about the challenges we face. Communities have the power to activate, initiate and sustain lasting change.

In January 2016 Dudley CVS and Healthwatch Dudley identified an opportunity to develop an activity that would inspire people to think about their communities and support the work of All Together Better. All Together Better is a new partnership between local NHS, the local authority, care organisations, GPs and the voluntary sector in Dudley borough. Partners believe there is a better way to plan and deliver care in Dudley, underpinned by the principles of shared ownership and putting Dudley people at the heart of healthcare services, with a focus on communities being more engaged in improving wellbeing.

Working with design specialists Spaghetti, we developed a simple process and a pack of resources to inspire people and help them gain confidence in some of the thinking and tactics used to connect people’s skills, talents and knowledge with great local spaces and other resources in real life, practical projects. Our work with residents in Wrens Nest and Coseley was invaluable in shaping this.

Dudley CVS and Healthwatch Dudley ran 7 Activate workshops in 7 weeks.

Over 150 people

...becoming co-designers of

This contributed to

from 32 local

over 20 imaginative and

the work of All

groups took part...

practical collaborative projects

Together Better

Dudley CVS is further developing the Activate Pack in partnership with West Midlands Police through their Active Citizens work.

Dudley CVS taps into the power of social media in all sorts of ways to support people, inspire community action and catalyse connections. We have each experienced the fear of taking the plunge when it comes to social media. Our Volunteer Centre officer, Eileen Fielding soon overcame this and took to it like a duck to water. This is her story.

"We had a volunteer helping with our Operation Santa toy appeal who said 'you need to have a blog'. He set it up, and very soon after that he left! He had shown me the ropes, so I did some work on it and we went live. I quite liked it, we got a lot of response to it.

"The next person to pester me was one of Operation Santa’s biggest advocates, Brett from Blaze Hairdressing, who encouraged me to get Operation Santa onto Facebook. At the time I really didn’t like Facebook, but I could see I would have to try it. It worked really well and helped me to see that Facebook would help us to reach a completely different range of supporters. From there, I created a Volunteer Centre Facebook page aiming to engage with a completely different range of volunteers from those who were engaging with the Volunteer Centre

Connecting, sharing and learning online 58,457 website hits

dudleycvs.org.uk healthwatchdudley.co.uk bhillcivic.co.uk

Sharing our knowledge & learning through blogs 31,264 views

through Twitter and Volunteering Counts blog. We now post a regular opportunity

18,649 visits

of the day on Facebook, they get lots of likes and shares.

228 conversations

Now, Dudley Volunteer Centre shares a good mixture of content...

Eileen uses her own LinkedIn profile to build connections with local businesses that want to support ...on the

... which is linked

Volunteer

with Twitter &

Centre blog...

Facebook

good causes in Dudley, successfully encouraging staff from two local businesses to take on community projects

"In December we started Wise Up Wednesdays, weekly blog posts informing and connecting the people who manage volunteers and giving them the tools to enable them to give their volunteers the best possible experience. This has proved very popular, it boosted visits to our blog and the posts are shared widely.

"I like connecting people and sharing information. I like the cross-pollination. It’s more about connecting and informing people than looking to get any specific outcome. I’ve made contacts all over the world who support volunteers."

dudleycvsblog.com volunteeringcounts.org.uk colabdudley.net digitaldudley.wordpress.com

Connecting & sharing on Twitter 3,254 conversations 3,794 retweets 3,544 likes

@dudleycvs | @dudleyvols | @hwdudley | @bhillcivic | @colabdudley | @east_coseley | @openhubwrenna

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Connecting, sharing and learning

In their words "I think that the skills and information I have

"Healthwatch Dudley is an asset to

developed throughout both the NHS Youth

the borough and a valued partner."

Forum and Youth Health Researchers will really

Matt Bowsher, Chief Officer, Adult

help me in the future. Whether I want to go into

Social Care, Dudley Council

the healthcare industry or I want to be a brain surgeon, the skills such as commitment, communication and confidence will stay with me for the rest of my life and will have a huge

"I LOVED this campaign, total focus and commitment from everyone involved, excellent partnership working.

I would do this again in a flash."

positive impact on my future."

Dudley Youth Health Researchers participant

Participant in CSE Awareness Week

"Dudley CVS provided informative options of the volunteer opportunities available to the general public and businesses.

It

gave us the direction to understand the opportunities to help in the local area. Thank you for all your support!"

Jenny Tipper, Civica UK Ltd

"Healthwatch Dudley has become a valuable part of the health and social care systems in Dudley, providing an independent perspective. At the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust we work closely with Healthwatch Dudley through their review process to ensure we make the most of feedback from our patient’s experience."

Paula Clark, Chief Exec, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust

"Dudley CVS is a dynamic, vibrant organisation which has been instrumental in helping the Council transform its approach and way of working with partners. Its contribution is first class, helping us to think differently about how we meet the needs of the Dudley population."

Tony Oakman, Strategic Director, People Directorate, Dudley Council

At the heart of our work is the support we give to not-for-profit organisations. These organisations range from small, volunteer-led groups that improve local neighbourhoods, to larger charities and social enterprises that support people from all over the borough. What unites them is their passion and energy to improve people’s lives. We give information, training and practical guidance to help people to set up, efficiently run and develop their group, helping them to access the tools, knowledge, resources and funding they need to be successful.

Supported

267

voluntary and community organisations including community groups, charities, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and people that wanted to set one up

We asked groups what they thought of our support...

Funding and finance Training events Compliance Volunteer management Setting up

Common areas of support

100% feel more confident

70% feel better known

90% feel more skilled

60% feel more sustainable & efficient

90% have better opportunities

60% feel better connected

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Strengthening organisations

2015-2016

Getting groups on track Lower Gornal Friday Night Youth Club In September 2015, a group of Gornal parents were determined to bring back the Friday night youth club after the closure of the Council-run youth club the previous summer, but they didn't know where to start.

Dudley Youth Service staff referred them to Dudley CVS's Small Groups Officer, who gave them intensive support over a few months to build the club on solid foundations.

Support included:

helping them plan

developing a

producing a

connecting them to

what they wanted to

committee & helping

constitution

safeguarding support

do that would help

members to know their

which they

from CVS & Youth

them access funding

roles & responsbilities

needed to apply

Service colleagues &

for funding

to the Dudley CVS Volunteer Centre to

18 new groups set up - 8 community groups - 6 social enterprise community interest companies (CICs) - 4 charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)

6

registered as charities

help them recruit and manage volunteers

This led to Lower Gornal Friday Night Youth Club:

receiving a grant of

ÂŁ4,000 to give the

club a great kick start having a pool of over 30 volunteers they can call on so that they can manage a weekly rota of cover for the club building a membership of over 40 young people - at least 30 attend regularly!

19 brought their governing documents up to date

Supporting a collaborative approach to accessing funding Back in 2013, Wolverhampton-based charity Believe to Achieve (B2A) contacted the Dudley CVS Funding Officer with an idea to build on one of their successful Lottery funded projects. They wanted to deliver work in Dudley borough that would address the emotional wellbeing and mental health needs of children and young people.

Recognising that a funding bid would be stronger if it could demonstrate collaboration, the Dudley CVS Funding Officer encouraged Believe to Achieve to build partnerships with Dudley-based groups, particularly through Dudley's Children, Young People and Families Network, which is supported by Dudley CVS. This preliminary work led to: a partnership project developed between B2A,

B2A leading on a funding

Stourbridge-based The What? Centre and Wolverhampton-

application to Reaching

based Peer Support Network (PSN). This meant the project

Communities, supported by

could benefit more children and young people as each

the Dudley CVS Funding

partner works with different age groups and specialises in

Officer during 2015 over a

different areas

series of meetings

This led to:

The partnership being awarded a three-year grant of

ÂŁ252,806 from the

Reaching Communities programme The delivery of wraparound support for wellbeing and mental health of children and young people between the ages of 5 and 18, in school and community settings right across the Dudley borough.

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Unlocking resources and funding

Supporting organisations to use new technology Increasing efficiency with the use of digital tools One of the challenges facing the voluntary and community sector today is how organisations can make the most out of technology in order to improve efficiency and ultimately support their communities and beneficiaries better.

Voluntary and community sector organisations recognise this, but they often lack a combination of time, skills and resources needed to adopt new digital tools that will ultimately improve their work. Dudley CVS's PSIAMS (personal social impact action measurement system) project has been supporting organisations, including local charity Langstone Society's Community Support service, with this challenge throughout the year.

Langstone was a solely paper-based organisation that had a small database, consisting of limited service user contact information. Support workers at Langstone often worked out of the office, having to return to the office at the end of the day to record any new information for each service user they had met that day. The PSIAMS team has supported

Supporting groups with social media Social media surgeries are a relaxed place to help people to learn how to use the web to communicate, campaign or collaborate.

Participants are paired with a social media surgeon who listens to what they want to do and then demonstrates

the transformation to digital tools in the following ways:

free and useful social media tools.

This year 12 volunteer converting all paper

enabling records to be accessed

training 35

records into digital format

remotely so that support workers

members of staff

that could be easily

could update their service users'

to use the new

accessed and updated

information instantly from anywhere

system

surgeons helped 33 people from 24 groups to make the most of social media and free online tools to help them

This led to

Increased efficiency for Langstone's Community Support service and timesaving for staff More accurate records of the work, outcomes and impact of the service Radical reduction in the amount of paper used by the charity Langstone planning to roll out PSIAMS across the whole charity.

communicate, share and collaborate.

Dudley CVS recognises that strengthening organisations is about more than supporting them individually to help them to become more effective. It's also about bringing them together with each other and with strategic partners in order to explore how together we can respond to big challenges, which we cannot do in isolation. Today's challenges include widening inequality, which increases demand on dwindling resources, how we can improve resilience in communities and how can we empower people to participate in decisions that affect them.

At local level, Dudley Council is becoming a Community Council, which hopes to support residents and communities to get involved in activities that improve our communities; partnerships are being formed around new models of care for residents' health and wellbeing and the West Midlands Combined Authority is being formed. The voluntary and community sector should be a meaningful participant in these areas of work and Dudley CVS has been ensuring that the sector has a strong voice.

Levering in hard-to-access funding In 2014-15, Dudley CVS jointly set up Black Country

During the year, we have brought the sector together with partners to contribute to and learn more about:

Together CIC with the three other Black Country CVSs in order to maximise opportunities for the sector, including bidding for work and funding to passport to frontline voluntary sector organisations to deliver great work.

Continuing this work in 2015-16, Dudley CVS and partners: Brought together 99 people from voluntary sector

Working together to improve health and wellbeing 105 attendees over 4 events

Community Council: how we can work together to realise Dudley Council's vision Forming a Children's Alliance

organisations across three workshops on the Building Better Opportunities EU funding stream Identified and worked with voluntary sector partners that could deliver work through Building Better Opportunities

Police and Crime Commissioning consultation

HR and employment law, Awards for All funding, social finance and trading and volunteer management training: 120 attendees across all

Contributed to a Black Country-wide application to Building Better Opportunities

workshops

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Bringing the sector together

In their words "A really exceptional service.

"Dudley CVS provide great support to so

Without the Funding Officer's

many voluntary organisations with a wide

support I don’t think our bid

variety of different needs. Their advice is

would have been successful."

second to none - which makes working with

Nick Pratt, CEO, Believe to

volunteers easier for an organisation and

Achieve

should seek to enhance and improve any volunteer experience with an organisation.

Keep up the brilliant work."

"The team at Dudley CVS are friendly and helpful, therefore

Zyllah Moranne-Brown, Head of Marketing and Communications, Black Country Radio

even the simplest of enquiries is answered with empathy.

Also, the range and breadth of knowledge and experience of the team is exceptional."

Janice Freeman-Phillips, Project Coordinator, Sandwell

"The Funding Officer has a passion for the voluntary

"Your support has helped us secure funding, have the confidence to sit on various boards, represent other voluntary organisations, form meaningful partnerships and help in planning for sustainability. " Jayne Sargeant, Phase Trust

Financial Services Hub

sector and we would be lost without his expertise, his knowledge and intelligence."

Karen Fielder, Top Church Training

"Without the Small Groups Officer's involvement

"I can’t believe how much

I’m not sure how much the group would have

progress we have made in

developed. She has given us a structure, that

such a short space of time

means we continue to try and achieve

and can’t comprehend

something!"

what things would have

Ruth Blackburn, Friends of Hay Green

been like if I hadn’t picked

Recreation Ground

up the phone to arrange that first meeting with the

"We wouldn't have even known where to start if it

Volunteer Centre Officer."

hadn't been for Dudley CVS. We are now running

Kate Clarke, SWITCH –

a very successful youth club with over 70 children

Young Person’s Drug &

registered."

Alcohol Project

Lisa Blackham, Lower Gornal Friday Youth Club

As the year which this report covers came to a close, the Big Lottery Fund published a paper to launch a debate about what 'doing good' looks like in the future.* Taking into account persistent, new and emerging social challenges, what does it mean for how we support people to build better communities, and improve their own lives and the lives of those who live around them? What is the role of charities, businesses, government and communities? How should we all be working together?

The stories and data we have shared in this annual report hint at deeper activity and change which we are initiating, supporting and leading in Dudley borough. Innovations in our approaches, collaborations and support, along with our learning from this, contribute to the Future of Doing Good conversation and offer some responses to questions posed.

Behind our mission to connect and inspire people and organisations to achieve positive change are beliefs that: genuine collaboration (both within our sector and across sectors) is ‘good’; our sector can and should embrace new opportunities, for example those offered by new uses of technology, data and evidence; and that while people may have needs, they also have skills, knowledge, talents, passions and other gifts to give and our work should not ignore this. Our work during the year demonstrates ways we have translated these beliefs into action and change across the whole of our organisation.

Over the page you will see how Dudley CVS's belief in sustaining meaningful collaboration, innovating and promoting resilience for people and organisations runs through all of our work, with examples from the stories and data we have shared in this report. *See more at futureofdoinggood.org.uk and follow #futuregood on social media.

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Initiating, supporting and leading change

Sustaining genuine collaboration

Innovating and promoting resilience

Our work supporting people and the case studies

Our PSIAMS team is impacting hugely on our

shared in this annual report serve to illustrate ways in

sector’s ability to make the most of

which Dudley CVS teams repeatedly act to bring

technology. Our unique products and

together holistic support from different professionals

tailored, intensive support enable

across multiple agencies to support individuals

organisations to improve their processes, use

facing challenges in their lives. As a result of

and share data and evidence, communicate

collaborations formed at a strategic level by Dudley

and collaborate more effectively, and thus

CVS, relationships at an operational level have been

provide more effective services and support

facilitated. In turn, by having Dudley CVS officers

which takes people on a visible journey to

embedded in multi-agency teams we are able to

independence.

provide powerful connections to the specialist and diverse offers of organisations in our sector.

By the end of the year our work in neighbourhoods (Open Hub Wrens Nest and East Coseley Big

Other examples of collaboration in this report include

Local) and with Healthwatch around project co-

activity around specific agendas, such as raising

design processes (Activate) was ready to scale

awareness of child sexual exploitation, work around health

across the borough. Opportunities were opening

and wellbeing led by the Healthwatch team and Dudley

up to work with a range of partners to continue

CVS officers, and our involvement in the Black Country

designing and testing approaches to grow new

Together CIC, taking forward sub-regional activity to

forms of participation at neighbourhood level.

address unemployment and other challenges. We also

When combined, the small actions of many people

support organisations in our sector to collaborate with

through connected projects creates all sorts of

each other and across sectors - see the case study about

individual and collective outcomes.

our work with Believe to Achieve and the What? Centre.

Our work over this year is another chapter in our enthusiastic, creative approach to tackling challenges faced by people and organisations. We hope that the difference we have made to the people, communities and organisations we have supported, as well as our valued partners, helps to make Dudley borough a vibrant and resilient place. We look forward to building on this year's work, relationships and learning in 2016-17.

Deb Attwood Healthwatch Dudley Information

Martin Jones Funding Officer

and Administration Officer

Neil Langford Changemaker Support Officer East

James Baggott PSIAMS

Coseley Big Local

Wendy Bains Locality Link Officer

Sharon McGlynn Carer Coordinator

Chris Barron Healthwatch Dudley Communications

Brendan McKeown Information Officer (resigned

and Volunteer Engagement Officer

March 2016)

Sue Bloomer Locality Link Officer

Becky Pickin Small Groups Development Officer

Nicki Burrows Children, Young People and

Dale Pickin Administration Officer

Families Development Officer

Lorna Prescott Senior Development Officer

James Challis Business Development Manager

Nick Tromans Locality Link Officer

(appointed November 2015)

Caroline Webb Senior Development

Rob Dalziel Healthwatch Dudley Participatory

Officer (resigned July 2015)

Research Officer

With valuable support provided by

Georgia Davis Healthwatch Dudley Participatory

Donna Roberts Research and

Research Assistant (appointed June 2015)

Intelligence Officer Dudley

Adam Deyes PSIAMS

Council

Jayne Emery Healthwatch Dudley Chief Officer Eileen Fielding Volunteer Centre Development

Officer Terry Gee Locality Link Officer Andy Gray Chief Officer Kate Green Integrated Plus Manager Jason Griffiths Locality Link Officer Melissa Guest Healthwatch Dudley

Communications Development Officer Thomas Jaunzems Hospitality Manager

(resigned February 2016)

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Dudley CVS staff

Dudley CVS board members and volunteers Dudley CVS board members

Dudley CVS volunteers

Chairman: Michael Abrahams

June Bowen

Vice Chairman: Mary Turner

Joan Freeman

Treasurer: Graham Jones

Sarah Hill

Elected members Anne Adams - Dudley Stroke Association Jim Cameron - Age UK Dudley (resigned November 2015) Chris Campbell - Just Straight Talk CIC and Ebenezer Baptist

Church Jane Clarke - CHADD Caroline Dimbylow - CAB Dudley (resigned July 2015) Ann Evett - Thomas Pocklington Trust (resigned July 2015) Mariann Harris - Friends of Priory Park (elected October 2015) Sally Huband - Healthwatch Dudley Tom Keys - Dudley Wine and Beermaking Circle Asima Khalid - Apni Zaroorat Community Network Margaret Kite - Wesley Methodist Church (resigned July 2015) Derek Lidington - Side by Side Theatre (elected October 2015) Alison Sayer - Halas Homes Rachael Taylor - Black Country Integration Project (elected

October 2015) Caroline Wickens - Dudley and Netherton Methodist Circuit

With thanks also to Healthwatch Dudley board members and its army of volunteers

SVC yelduD We asked people to describe Dudley CVS in 4 words. These are the responses.

The sizes of the words reflect the frequency with which they were used to describe Dudley CVS.

We hope you enjoyed learning more about the work of Dudley CVS during 2015-16. If you have any feedback on the Dudley CVS annual report, please let us know:

Face to face, next time you see a member of our staff

@DudleyCVS

facebook.com/CVSDudley

01384 573381

info@dudleycvs.org.uk

Dudley CVS is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee Place of registration: England 7 Albion Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 3EE www.dudleycvs.org.uk

Company number: 1998105 Charity number: 517766